Teleconferencing excites UNIBEN students

Eighty students from the departments of Agriculture and Botany, University of Benin (UNIBEN) were thrilled after receiving one week of lectures in real time from lecturers of the Lincoln University, United States of America.

The initiative, known as Electronic Class Exchange, was facilitated by Idonuagbe Akogun, a son of former Leader of the House of Representative, Col. Tunde Akogun with support from the Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC).

The students who were taught by Dr Jaime Pinero and Mr Jacob Wilson, were exposed to the importance of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in the context of global issues of trade and pest invasion, the biology and management options of insect pests, weeds, and pathogens affecting plants and livestock, among others.

Akogun, an alumnus of Lincoln University, said the programme was set up to create and sustain international linkages between developed countries and developing ones through their institutions of learning.

He said the idea was to expose Nigerian students to foreign studies without leaving the country and also be at par with their counterparts in foreign countries.

He said: “I went back to my alma mater and thought of how children in Nigeria could relate with those in the United States – not those who have been abroad but those back home in Sokoto or anywhere in Nigeria. At least they can communicate and interact so that they can learn and be on the same playing field with Nigerians schooling abroad.

“Our vision is to carve out a synergy where schools across the world can interact in real time via cyber and virtual avenues creating a way for students to have first hand learning experience with their peers and foreign faculties from different countries.

“One way I believe we can stay a step ahead is by working and learning at a better rate and being able to connect live to the best schools and have information shared to us as this can only enhance the quality and value of the degrees that country gives out to aspiring graduates.”

Akogun said despite fears, the project has worked out so far and would be expanded to other universities and tertiary institutions.

“The idea has been well received but they were afraid of power issue, voice clarity and others but those are things we have thought about very well. The Federal Ministry of Education, NUC, NCCE, NBTE have keyed into the project. This project was free. The communication was flawless. It can work anywhere in Nigeria. University of Benin supported the project so the students did not pay. I went to the schools abroad and told them what I want is their faculty. It is an avenue to collaborate. We can go into agriculture, engineering, medicine and peace and conflict resolution that can enhance the students personal and career goals,” he said.